In the following sermon, John Wesley exhorts his congregation to beware of
satan's attempts to destroy Christians via various methods and means. It
is
an enlightening sermon well worth reading.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
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SATAN'S DEVICES
by John Wesley
"We are not ignorant of his devices." -- 2 Corinthians 2:11
The devices whereby the subtle God of this world labors to destroy the
children of God - or at least to torment whom he cannot destroy, to
perplex and hinder them in running the race which is set before them - are
numberless as the stars of heaven, or the sand upon the seashore. But it
is
of one of them only that I now propose to speak, (although exerted in
various ways,) whereby he endeavors to divide the gospel against itself,
and by one part of it to overthrow the other.
The inward kingdom of heaven, which is set up in the hearts of all that
repent and believe the gospel, is no other than "righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost." Every babe in Christ knows we are made
partakers of these, the very hour that we believe in Jesus. But these are
only the first-fruits of his Spirit; the harvest is not yet. Although
these
blessings are inconceivably great, yet we trust to see greater than these.
We trust to love the Lord our God, not only as we do now, with a weak,
though sincere affection, but with all our heart, with all our mind, with
all
our soul, and with all our strength." We look for power to rejoice
evermore, to pray without ceasing, and in every thing to give thanks;"
knowing, "this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us."
We expect to be "made perfect in love;" in that which casts out all
painful fear, and all desire but that of glorifying him we love, and of
loving
and serving him more and more. We look for such an increase in the
experimental knowledge and love of God our Savior, as will enable us
always "to walk in the light as he is in the light." We believe the whole
mind will be in us, "which was also in Christ Jesus;" that we shall love
every man so as to be ready to lay down our life for his sake; so as, by
this love, to be freed from anger, and pride, and from every unkind
affection. We expect to be "cleansed from all our idols," "from all
filthiness," whether "of flesh or spirit;" to he "saved from all our
uncleannesses," inward or outward; to be purified "as He is pure."
We trust in his promise, who cannot lie, that the time will surely come,
when, in every word and work, we shall do his blessed will on earth, as it
is done in heaven; when all our conversation shall be seasoned with salt,
all
meet to minister grace to the hearers; when, whether we eat or drink, or
whatever we do, it shall be done to the glory of God; when all our words
and deeds shall be "in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto God,
even the Father, through him."
Now this is the grand device of Satan, to destroy the first work of God
in the soul, or at least to hinder its increase, by our expectation of
that
greater work. It is therefore my present design,
First, to point out the several ways whereby he endeavors this: And,
Secondly, to observe how we may retort these fiery darts of the
wicked one; how we may rise the higher, by what he intends for an
occasion of our falling.
I am, First, to point out the several ways whereby Satan endeavors to
destroy the first work of God in the soul, or at least to hinder its
increase,
by our expectation of that greater work. And,
He endeavors to damp our joy in the Lord, by the consideration of our
own vileness, sinfulness, unworthiness; added to this, that there must be
a
far greater change than is yet, or we cannot see the Lord. If we knew we
must remain as we are, even to the day of our death, we might possibly
draw a kind of comfort, poor as it was, from that necessity. But as we
know we need not remain in this state, as we are assured there is a
greater
change to come, and that unless sin be all done away in this life, we
cannot
see God in glory, - that subtle adversary often damps the joy we should
otherwise feel in what we have already attained, by a perverse
representation of what we have not attained, and the absolute necessity of
attaining it. So that we cannot rejoice in what we have, because there is
more which we have not. We cannot rightly taste the goodness of God,
who hath done so great things for us, because there are so much greater
things which, as yet, he hath not done. Likewise, the deeper conviction
God works in us of our present unholiness, and the more vehement desire
we feel in our heart of the entire holiness he hath promised, the more are
we tempted to think lightly of the present gifts of God, and to undervalue
what we have already received because of what we have not received.
If he can prevail thus far, if he can damp our joy, he will soon attack
our
peace also. He will suggest, "Are you fit to see God? He is of purer eyes
than to behold iniquity. How, then, can you flatter yourself, so as to
imagine he beholds you with approbation? God is holy: You are unholy.
What communion hath light with darkness? How is it possible that you,
unclean as you are, should be in a state of acceptance with God? You see
indeed the mark, the prize of your high calling; but do you not see it is
afar
off? How can you presume then to think that all your sins are already
blotted out? How can this be, until you are brought nearer to God, until
you bear more resemblance to him?" Thus will he endeavor not only to
shake your peace, but even to overturn the very foundation of it; to bring
you back, by insensible degrees, to the point from whence you set out
first, even to seek for justification by works, or by your own
righteousness, - to make something in you the ground of your
acceptance, or, at least, necessarily previous to it.
Or, if we hold fast, "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is
laid, even Jesus Christ," and, "I am justified freely by Gods grace,
through
the redemption which is in Jesus;" yet he will not cease to urge, "But the
tree is known by its fruits: And have you the fruits of justification? Is
that
mind in you which was in Christ Jesus? Are you dead unto sin, and alive
unto righteousness? Are you made conformable to the death of Christ, and
do you know the power of his resurrection?" And then, comparing the
small fruits we feel in our souls with the fullness of the promises, we
shall
be ready to conclude, "Surely God hath not said that my sins are forgiven
me! Surely I have not received the remission of my sins; for what lot have
I among them that are sanctified?"
More especially in the time of sickness and pain, he will press this with
all his might: "Is it not the word of Him that cannot lie, 'Without
holiness
no man shall see the Lord?' But you are not holy; you know it well; you
know holiness is the full image of God; and how far is this above, out of
your sight? You cannot attain unto it. Therefore, all your labor has been
in
vain. All these things you have suffered in vain. You have spent your
strength for nought. You are yet in your sins, and must therefore perish
at
the last." And thus, if your eye be not steadily fixed on him who hath
born
all your sins, he will bring you again under that "fear of death, whereby
you was so long "subject unto bondage," and, by this means, impair, if not
wholly destroy, our peace, as well us joy in the Lord.
But his masterpiece of subtilty is still behind. Not content to strike at
your peace and joy, he will carry his attempts farther yet: He will level
his
assault against your righteousness also. He will endeavor to shake, yea,
if
it be possible, to destroy, the holiness you have already received, by
your
very expectation of receiving more, of attaining all the image of God.
The manner wherein he attempts this, may partly appear from what has
been already observed. For, First, by striking at our joy in the Lord, he
strikes likewise at our holiness: Seeing joy in the Holy Ghost is a
precious
means of promoting every holy temper; a choice instrument of God,
whereby he carries on much of his work in a believing soul. And it is a
considerable help, not only to inward, but also to outward, holiness. It
strengthens our hands to go on in the work of faith, and in the labor of
love; manfully to "fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold on
eternal
life." It is peculiarly designed of God to be a balance both against
inward
and outward sufferings: to "lift up the hands that hang down, and confirm
the feeble knees." Consequently, whatever delays our joy in the Lord,
pro****tionally obstructs our holiness And therefore, so far as Satan
shakes our joy, he hinders our holiness also.
The same effect will ensue, if he can, by any means, either destroy or
shake our peace. For the peace of God is another precious means of
advancing the image of God in us. There is scarce a greater help to
holiness
than this, a continual tranquillity of spirit, the evenness of a mind
stayed
upon God, a calm repose in the blood of Jesus. And without this, it is
scarce possible to "grow in grace," and in the vital "knowledge of our
Lord
Jesus Christ." For all fear (unless the tender, filial fear) freezes and
benumbs the soul. It binds up all the springs of spiritual life, and stops
all
motion of the heart toward God and doubt, as it were, bemires the soul, so
that it sticks fast in the deep clay. Therefore, in the same pro****tion as
either of these prevail, our growth in holiness is hindered.
At the same time that our wise adversary endeavor, to make our
conviction of the necessity of perfect love an occasion of shaking, our
peace by doubts and fears, he endeavors to weaken, if not destroy, our
faith. Indeed these are inseparably connected, so that they must stand or
fall together. So long as faith subsists, we remain in peace; our heart
stands
fast, while it believes in the Lord. But if we let go our faith, our
filial
confidence in a loving, pardoning God, our peace is at an end, the very
foundation on which it stood being overthrown. And this is the only
foundation of holiness, as well as of peace; consequently, whatever
strikes
at this, strikes at the very root of all holiness: For without this faith,
without an abiding sense that Christ loved me, and gave himself' for me,
without a continuing conviction that God for Christ's sake is merciful to
me a sinner, it is impossible that I should love God: "We love him,
because
he first loved us;" and in pro****tion to the strength and clearness of our
conviction that he hath loved us, and accepted us in his Son. And unless
we love God, it is not possible that we should love our neighbor as
ourselves; nor, consequently, that we should have any right affections,
either toward God, or toward man. It evidently follows, that whatever
weakens our faith, must, in the same degree, obstruct our holiness: And
this is not only the most effectual, but also the most compendious, way of
destroying all holiness; seeing it does not affect any one Christian
temper,
any single grace or fruit of the Spirit, but, so far as it succeeds, tears
up the
very root of the whole work of God.
No marvel, therefore, that the ruler of the darkness of this world should
here put forth all his strength. And so we find by experience. For it is
far
easier to conceive, than it is to express, the unspeakable violence
wherewith this temptation is frequently urged on them who hunger and
thirst after righteousness. When they see, in a strong and clear light, on
the
one hand, the desperate wickedness of their own hearts, - on the other
hand, the unspotted holiness to which they are called in Christ Jesus; on
the one hand, the depth of their own corruption, of their total alienation
from God, - on the other, the height of the glory of God, that image of
the Holy One, wherein they are to be renewed; there is, many times, no
spirit left in them; they could almost cry out "With God this is
impossible!" They are ready to give up both faith and hope; to cast away
that very confidences whereby they are to overcome all things, through
Christ strengthening them; whereby, "after they have done the will of
God," they are to "receive the promise."
And if they "hold fast the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto
the end," they shall undoubtedly receive the promise of God, reaching
through both time and eternity. But here is another snare laid for our
feet:
While we earnestly pant for that part of the promise which is to be
accomplished here, "for the glorious liberty of the children of God," we
may be led unawares from the consideration of the glory which shall
hereafter be revealed. Our eye may be insensibly turned aside from that
crown which the righteous Judge hath promised to give at that day; "to all
that love his appearing;" and we may be drawn away from the view of that
incorruptible inheritance which is reserved in heaven for us. But this
also
would be a loss to our souls and an obstruction to our holiness. For to
walk in the continual sight of our goal, is a needful help in our running
the
race that is set before us. This it was, the having "respect unto the
recompense of the reward," which, of old time, encouraged Moses, rather
"to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures
of
sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt." Nay, it is expressly said of a greater than he that,
"for
the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, and despised the
shame," till he "sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Whence
we may easily infer, how much more needful for us is the view of that joy
set before us, that we may endure whatever cross the wisdom of God lays
upon us, and press on through holiness to glory.
But while we are reaching to this, as well as to that glorious liberty
which is preparatory to it, we may be in danger of falling into another
snare of the devil, wherein he labors to entangle the children of God. We
may take too much thought for tomorrow, so as to neglect the
improvement of today. We may so expect perfect love, as not to use that
which is already shed abroad in our hearts. There have not been wanting
instances of those who have greatly suffered hereby. They were so taken
up with what they were to receive hereafter, as utterly to neglect what
they had already received. In expectation of having five talents more,
they
buried their one talent in the earth. At least, they did not improve it as
they might have done, to the glory of God, and the good of their own
souls.
Thus does the subtle adversary of God and man endeavor to make void
the counsel of God, by dividing, the gospel against itself, and making one
part of it overthrow the other; while the first work of God in the soul is
destroyed by the expectation of his perfect work. We have seen several of
the ways wherein he attempts this, by cutting off; as it were, the springs
of holiness. But this he likewise does more directly, by making that
blessed hope an occasion of unholy tempers.
Thus, whenever our heart is eagerly athirst for all the great and
precious promises; when we pant after the fullness of God, as the hart
after the water brook; when our soul breaketh out in fervent desire, "Why
are his chariot wheels so long a-coming?" - he will not neglect the
op****tunity of tempting us to murmur against God. He will use all his
wisdom, and all his strength, if haply, in an unguarded hour, we may be
influenced to repine at our Lord for thus delaying, his coming. At least,
he
will labor to excite some degree of fretfulness or impatience; and,
perhaps,
or envy at those whom we believe to have already attained the prize of our
high calling. He well knows, that, by giving way to any of these tempers,
we are pulling down the very thing we would build up. By thus following
after perfect holiness, we become more unholy than before. Yea, there is
great danger that our last state should be worse than the first; like them
of
whom the Apostle speaks in those dreadful words, "It had been better for
them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have
known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."
And from hence he hopes to reap another advantage, even to bring up
an evil re****t of the good way. He is sensible, how few are able to
distinguish (and too many are not willing so to do) between the accidental
abuse, and the natural tendency, of a doctrine. These, therefore, will be
continually) blend together, with regard to the doctrine of Christian
perfection; in order to prejudice the minds of unwary men against the
glorious promises of God. And how frequently, how generally, I had
almost said how universally, has he prevailed herein! For who is there
that
observes any of these accidental ill effects of this doctrine, and does
not
immediately conclude, this is its natural tendency; and does not readily
cry
out, "See, these are the fruits (meaning the natural, necessary fruits) of
such doctrine?" Not so: They are fruits which may accidentally spring
from the abuse of a great and precious truth: But the abuse of this, or
any
other scriptural doctrine, does by no means destroy its use. Neither can
the unfaithfulness of man perverting his right way, make the promise of
God of no effect. No: Let God be true, and every man a liar. The word of
the Lords it shall stand. "Faithful is he that hath promised: He also will
do
it." Let not us then be "removed from the hope of the Gospel." Rather let
us observe, which was the Second thing proposed, How we may retort
these fiery darts of the wicked one: How we may rise the higher by what
he intends for an occasion of our falling.
And, First, Does Satan endeavor to damp your joy in the Lord, by the
consideration of your sinfulness added to this, that without entire,
universal holiness, no man can see the Lord? You may cast back this dart
upon his own head, while through the grace of God, the more you feel of
your own vileness, the more you rejoice in confident hope, that all this
shall be done away. While you hold fast this hope, every evil temper you
feel, though you hate it with a perfect hatred, may use a means, not of
lessening your humble joy, but rather of increasing it. "This and this"
may
you say, "shall likewise perish from the presence of the Lord. Like as the
wax melteth at the fire, so shall this melt away before his face." By this
means, the greater that change is which remains to be wrought in your
soul, the more may you triumph in the Lord, and rejoice in the God of
your salvation, who hath done so great things for you already, and will do
so much greater things than these.
Secondly: The more vehemently he assaults your peace with that
suggestion, "God is holy; you are unholy, you are immensely distant from
that holiness, without which you cannot see God: How then can you be in
the favor of God? How can you fancy you are justified?" - take the more
earnest heed to hold fast that, "Not by works of righteousness which I
have done, I am found in him; I am accepted in the Beloved; not having my
own righteousness, (as the cause, either in whole or in part, of our
justification before God,) but that which is by faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith." O bind this about your neck:
Write it upon the table of thy heart. Wear it as a bracelet upon thy arm,
as
frontlets between thine eyes: "I am 'justified freely by his grace,
through
the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.'" Value and esteem, more and more,
that precious truth, "By grace we are saved through faith." Admire, more
and more, the free grace of God, in so loving the world as to give "his
only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have
everlasting life." So shall the sense of the sinfulness you feel, on the
one
hand, and of the holiness you expect, on the other, both contribute to
establish your peace, and to make it flow as a river. So shall that peace
flow on with an even stream, in spite of all those mountains of
ungodliness, which shall become a plain in the day when the Lord cometh
to take full possession of your heart. Neither will sickness, or pain, or
the
approach of death occasion any doubt or fear. You know a day, an hour, a
moment, with God, is as a thousand years. He cannot be straitened for
time, wherein to work whatever remains to be done in your soul. And
God's time is always the best time. Therefore be thou careful for nothing:
Only make thy requests known unto Him, and that not with doubt or fear,
but thanksgiving; as being previously assured, He cannot withhold from
thee any manner of thing that is good.
Thirdly: The more you are tempted to give up your ****eld, to cast away
your faith, your confidence in his love, so much the more take heed that
you hold fast that whereunto you have attained; so much the more labor to
stir up the gift of God which is in you. Never let that slip, "I have 'an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;' and, 'The life I
now
live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself
for
me.'" Be this thy glory, and crown of rejoicing; and see that no one take
thy crown. Hold that fast: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth;" and, "I now 'have redemption in
his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.'" Thus, being filled with all
peace
and joy in believing, press on, in the peace and joy of faith, to the
renewal
of thy whole soul in the image of Him that created thee! Meanwhile, cry
continually to God, that thou mayest see that prize of thy high calling,
not
as Satan represents it, in a horrid dreadful shape, but in its genuine
native
beauty; not as something that must be, or thou wilt go to hell, but as
what
may be, to lead thee to heaven. Look upon it as the most desirable gift
which is in all the stores of the rich mercies of God. Beholding it in
this
true point of light, thou will hunger after it more and more; thy whole
soul
will be athirst for God, and for this glorious conformity to his likeness;
and, having received a good hope of this, and strong consolation through
grace, thou wilt no more he weary or faint in thy mind, but wilt follow on
till thou attainest.
In the same power of faith, press on to glory. In deed, this is the same
prospect still. God hath joined, from the beginning, pardon, holiness,
heaven. And why should man put them asunder? O beware of this! Let
not one link of the golden chain be broken. "God, for Christ's sake, hath
forgiven me. He is now renewing me in his own image. Shortly he will
make me meet for himself, and take me to stand before his face. I, whom
he hath justified through the blood of his Son, being thoroughly
sanctified
by his Spirit, shall quickly ascend to the 'New Jerusalem, the city of the
living God.' Yet a little while, and I shall 'come to the general assembly
and church of the first-born, and to God the Judge of all, and to Jesus
the
Mediator of the New Covenant.' How soon will these shadows flee away,
and the day of eternity dawn upon me! How soon shall I drink of the river
of the water of life, going out of the throne of God and of the Lamb!
There
all his servants shall praise him, and shall see his face, and his name
shall
be upon their foreheads. And no night shall be there; and they have no
need of a candle, or the light of the sun. For the Lord God enlighteneth
them, and they shall reign forever and ever.'"
And if you thus "taste of the good word, and of the powers of the
world to come," you will not murmur against God, because you are not
yet "meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." Instead of repining
at
your not being wholly delivered, you will praise God for thus far
delivering you. You will magnify God for what he hath done, and take it as
an earnest of what he will do. You will not fret against him, because you
are not yet renewed, but bless him because you shall he; and because "now
is your salvation" from all sin "nearer than when you" first "believed."
Instead of uselessly tormenting yourself because the time is not fully
come, you will calmly and quietly wait for it, knowing that it; "will
come,
and will not tarry." You may, therefore, the more cheerfully endure, as
yet, the burden of sin that still remains in you, because it will not
always
remain. Yet a little while, and is shall be clean gone only "tarry thou
the
Lord's leisure:" Be strong, and "he shall comfort thy heart;" and put thou
thy trust in the Lord!
And if you see any who appear (so far as man can judge, but God alone
searcheth the hearts) to be already partakers of their hope, already;
"made
perfect in love;" far from envying the grace of God in them, let it
rejoice
and comfort your heart. Glorify God for their sake! "If one member is
honored," shall not "all the members rejoice with it?" Instead of jealousy
or evil surmising concerning them, praise God for the consolation! Rejoice
in having a fresh proof of the faithfulness of God in fulfilling all his
promises; and stir yourself up the more, to "apprehend that for which you
also are apprehended of Christ Jesus!"
In order to this, redeem the time. Improve the present moment. Buy up
every op****tunity of growing in grace, or of doing good. Let not the
thought of receiving more grace tomorrow, make you negligent of today.
You have one talent now: If you expect five more, so much the rather
improve that you have. And the more you expect to receive hereafter, the
more labor for God now. Sufficient for the day is the grace thereof. God
is
now pouring his benefits upon you: Now approve yourself a faithful
steward of the present grace of God. Whatever may be tomorrow, give all
diligence today, to "add to your faith courage, temperance, patience,
brotherly kindness," and the fear of God, till you attain that pure and
perfect love! Let these things be now "in you and abound!" Be not now
slothful or unfruitful: "So shall an entrance be ministered unto you into
the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Lastly: If in time past you have abused this blessed hope of being, holy
as he is holy, yet do not therefore cast it away. Let the abuse cease, the
use remain. Use it now to the more abundant glory of God, and profit of
your own soul. In stead fast faith, in calm tranquillity of spirit, in
full
assurance of hope, rejoicing evermore for what God hath done, press ye on
unto perfection! Daily growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and going on from strength to strength, in resignation, in patience, in
humble thankfulness for what ye have attained, and for what ye shall, run
the race set before you, "looking unto Jesus," till through perfect love,
ye
enter into his glory!
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